You are here

Township association offers scholarships

The Minnesota Association of Townships is proud to again offer a township scholarship program for high school Juniors in the state of Minnesota. Up to four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.

The Minnesota Association of Townships is a non-profit corporation representing Minnesota townships while promoting an understanding of the heritage, future and being a voice for its roughly 9,000 officers. It regularly conducts research and educational programs designed to foster efficient and economical town governmental services and acts as a liaison between township officers and other local government officials to encourage sustained cooperation.

The Minnesota Association of Townships Scholarship Program is designed to heighten awareness among young people about Minnesota's Grassroots Township government. The program encourages every high school in the state of Minnesota to offer this opportunity for Juniors to participate in this scholarship program.

ELIGIBILITY

All students currently enrolled in the 11th grade and attending a Minnesota public, private, or parochial high school or a home study program and who plan to further their education at a college, university, or vocational school are eligible for this program. They cannot be the child, stepchild, grandchild or step-grandchild, brother, stepbrother, sister or stepsister of a MAT director or staff member.

REQUIREMENTS

* Applicants must complete an application form and submit it along with a written essay discussing this year's topic, which is:

* The title of the Minnesota Association of Township's 2014 Annual Conference is: "Township Pride - Fostering the Township Community." With that in mind, your essay should answer each of the following questions: Why is it important to you to feel like a part of your community? And, what steps can townships take to develop or foster a feeling of community in today's youth?

* Essays must be between 450 and 500 words, and must be typed with double spacing.

* Applicants should not name themselves, their school, their town or city, or their local officials in the essay.

* See the application for research tips (application can be found on our website www.mntownships.org).

Along with the completed application and written essay, students must submit:

* Current high school transcript

* Letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor.

* All items must be submitted in one envelope and mailed to: Minnesota Association of Townships Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 267, St. Michael, MN 55376, postmarked by May 1, 2014.

* Incomplete applications or applications postmarked after May 1, 2014 will not be accepted.

SELECTION

Each essay will be judged by an independent panel based upon originality, knowledge of subject matter in relationship to the title, and supporting statements, as well as correct spelling and punctuation. The judging will be completed by October 1, 2014 at which time up to four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Winners will be notified in writing in mid October 2014 and will be invited to attend the Minnesota Association of Townships' annual meeting to be held on November 20-22, 2014 in Duluth. Scholarship awards will be paid to the appropriate financial aid office upon receipt of verification of completing their first term at a college, university, or technical school.

The Minnesota Association of Townships is a non-profit corporation representing Minnesota townships. Township Government reflects the image as stated by our forefathers who believed that the government that governs best, is government which is closest to the people, "Grassroots Township Government." For more information, visit our website at www.mntownships.org